The Sacred Fig ("Ficus religiosa") or Bo-Tree (from the Sinhala "bo") ["Oxford English Dictionary", Oxford University Press, 1971, p.1014] is a species of banyanfig native to Sri Lanka, Nepal and India, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam. It is known by a wide range of local names, such as "Bo" or "pou" , bawdi or bawdi nyaung in Burmese language, Bodhi (โพธิ์) (in Thai Language, though pronounced "Po"), "Pipal" ("peepal, peepul, pippala, pimpal", etc.), "arali" or "Ashvastha" tree. It is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreentree up to 30 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 m.

The leaves are in shape with a distinctive extended tip; they are 10-17cm long and 8-12cm broad, with a 6-10cm petiole. The fruit is a small fig 1-1.5cm diameter, green ripening purple.

The Bodhi tree and the Sri Maha Bodhi propagated from it are famous specimens of Sacred Fig. The known planting date of the latter, 288 BC, gives it the oldest verified age for any angiosperm plant.

This plant is considered sacred by the followers of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, and hence the name 'Sacred Fig' was given to it. Siddhartha Gautama is referred to have been sitting underneath a Bo-Tree when he was enlightened (Bodhi), or "awakened" (Buddha). Thus, the Bo-Tree is well-known symbol for happiness, prosperity, longevity and good luck. Today in India, Hindu Sadhus still meditate below this tree, and in Theravada BuddhistSoutheast Asia, the tree's massive trunk is often the site of Buddhist and animist shrines.

Plaksa

Plaksa is a possible Sanskrit term for the Sacred fig. According to Macdonell and Keith (1912), it rather denotes the Wavy-leaved Fig tree ("Ficus infectoria").

In Hindu texts, the Plaksa tree is associated with the source of the [Sarasvati Radhakrishna, B.P. and Merh, S.S. (editors): Vedic Sarasvati, 1999, p.35-44 ]

sacred cow — {n.} A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed at, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. * /Motherhood is a sacred cow to most politicians./ * /The bold young governor had no respect for the state s sacred cows./ * /Television … Dictionary of American idioms

sacred cow — {n.} A person or thing that is never criticized, laughed at, or insulted even if it deserves such treatment. * /Motherhood is a sacred cow to most politicians./ * /The bold young governor had no respect for the state s sacred cows./ * /Television … Dictionary of American idioms

fig — fig1 /fig/, n. 1. any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Ficus, of the mulberry family, esp. a small tree, F. carica, native to southwestern Asia, bearing a turbinate or pear shaped fruit that is eaten fresh, preserved, or dried. 2. the fruit… … Universalium

The sacred college — College Col lege, n. [F. coll[ e]ge, L. collegium, fr. collega colleague. See {Colleague}.] 1. A collection, body, or society of persons engaged in common pursuits, or having common duties and interests, and sometimes, by charter, peculiar rights … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English